Bender for wire and flat stock



Nov. 10, 197 P. P. DEL MONICA 3,538,737

BENDER FOR WIRE AND FLAT swocx Filed Nov. 12, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Peter P. Del Monica:

L/ a, /NVE NTOK 14 Arm/may Nov. 10, 1970 P. P. DEL MONICA BENDER FQR WIRE AND FLAT STOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12 1968 Pefer' P. De] Monica INVENTOE wviz/ad flrroxezvey Patented Nov. 10, 1970 3,538,737 BENDER FOR WIRE AND FLAT STOCK Peter P. Del Monica, 10 Landon Drive, Bordentown, NJ. 08505 Filed Nov. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 774,644 Int. Cl. B21d 7/02 US. Cl. 72-388 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A small bender designed to perform the accurate bending of both wire and fiat linear stock, and in which the width of the pivoted bending lever and the diameter of an adjustable stop pin therefor are cooperative with visual indicator means at the several lever stop positions to show the precise angle of bend of the stock when the lever is moved into abutment with the stop pin at one of said positions.

This invention relates to benders for wire and fiat linear stock of the general type involving a horizontal base and a bending lever pivotally mounted thereon and having therein an annular row of sockets or other means for supporting a lever stop pin in either of various positions of angular bend.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a small, inexpensive bender of the character mentioned adapted for the accurate single or multiple bending of either wire or flat linear stock to any desired angle or angles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small bender of the character mentioned in which the width of the bending lever and the diameter of the lever stop pin are cooperative with visual angle indicator means at the several stop positions for automatically showing the precise angle of bend of the stock when the bending lever is moved into abutment with the stop pin at either of the stop positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a small bender of the character mentioned including a rectangular elongated base having a rearward surface in one horizontal plane for supporting the stock and a forward surface in a lower plane on which the front end of the bending lever is pivotally mounted, so that the portion of the stock to be bent will be above the surface of the base for free abutment by the bending lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small bender of the character mentioned including a vertically elongated support for the bending lever and pivot pin therefor said support also serving as a stop for the lever in its starting position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base.

The visual angle indicator means may consist of consecutively arranged alphabetical letters at the several lever stops, which are preferable for children or others in following a program of bends in a sheet or pamphlet containing printed illustrations of the various formations to be produced accompanied by directions stating the lengths in inches of the stock to be bent and the angles of bend, as, for example, 1A for a one inch length to be bent to an angle identified in the instructions as 30 degrees, etc. With this arrangement even a child with the aid of a linear scale and an adjustable length stop for the wire or flat stock can quickly perform the desired number of single or multiple bends in a precisely uniform manner. For laboratory or experimental purposes the visual angle indicator means may consist of conventional protractor degree divisions.

My improved bender includes an elongated flat base of rectangular plan formation provided with the linear scale and adjustable length stop one form of which may be of a construction similar to that shown in my design patent No. D. 211,286, issued June 4, 1968 in which the lever stop pin is insertable in sockets in the elongated base, or it may be provided with a protractor-like member detachably mounted on the top of the pivot pin support with the stop pin adjustably mounted in an annular slot. Also the stop pin may be lifted into the plane of abutting relation with the bending lever or withdrawn therefrom by means of a dial rotatably mounted in a lateral opening in a wall of the bender, the dial having letters or other angle indicator characters visible outside the opening and an inclined cam for selectively actuating several spring urged spherical or convex headed pins in the lower floor level of the bender at predetermined lever stop positions.

The pivot pin and lever support is made of substantial height to accommodate the vertical edgewise insertion of relatively wide flat stock between the top and bottom lugs of the bending lever through which the pivot pin projects. Although the width of such stock may vary, its thickness must be approximately uniform to fit closely between the vertical pivot pin and the flat inner surface of the vertical pivot pin and lever support. It is contemplated that a separate bender will be used for each crosssectional size of wire and fiat stock in view of the economical cost of the benders.

Other objects and advantages of my improved bender will be apparent or pointed out in the following specification in which reference is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of bender in accordance with my invention, with the vertical support for the bending lever and pivot pin partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the bender shown in r FIG. 1 also partly in section;

FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the bender shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the free end portion of the bending lever broken away and showing a wire or rod in position for the bending operation;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and showing the wire or rod (in broken lines) bent to an angle of 30 degrees;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a length of fiat stock in position for the bending operation;

FIG. 6 is a detail section showing the stop pin for the bending lever;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing another form of bender in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the bender shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a rear end view of the bender shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the lever stop pin shown in FIGS. 7-9;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the lever stop pin shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of still another form of bender in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of the bender shown in FIG. 12;

IZFIG. 14 is a section taken on the line 14-14 of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the lever stop pin actuating and angle indicator dial shown in FIGS. 12-14; and

FIG. 16 is a detail section showing one of several spring urged lever stop pins mounted in the lower floor surface of the bender at one of the lever stop positions as lifted abutting relation with the bending lever by the inclined cam on the indicator dial, shown more clearly in FIG. 15.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts or elements in the several views, and referring first to FIGS. 1 to 6, the form of my improved bender illustrated in said views includes an elongated rectangular base having a rearward surface 12 in one horizontal plane for supporting wire or flat stock in position for the bending operation, and a forward surface 14 in a lower horizontal plane upon which the front end portion of the bending lever 16 is rotatably seated in a vertically edgewise position so that the portion of the stock projecting forwardly from the higher surface 12 to be bent will be above the bottom edge of the bending lever 16 for free abutment thereby in the bending operation.

The front end and adjacent sides of the bending lever 16 are in rectangular relation with a horizontal groove 18, which may be of semicircular or other suitable crosssectional shape to receive wire stock, extending across the front end of the lever, the bottom edge of the groove being in horizontal alignment with the surface 12. The front end of the lever also has a pair of forwardly projecting lugs 20 in vertically spaced relation having vertically aligned openings through which the pivot pin 22 projects. An elongated support 24 of rectangular crosssectional shape projects vertically from the front end of the higher surface 12 and has a forwardly projecting flat portion 26 at its upper end in a plane for closely overlying the top of the lever 16 and having a laterally projecting integral lug 28 above the uppermost lug 20, this lug also having an opening through which the vertical pivot pin 22 projects. The lower end of the pin 22 is seated in a socket 23 (FIG. 2) in the surface 14 of the base 10. A groove 30 extends horizontally across the inner surface of the support 24 in coincident alignment with the groove 18 in the lever 16 when the lever is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base 10, as when the lever is in its neutral or starting position as shown in FIG. 1, with the lever stopped in that position by abutment against the front surface of the support 24.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3 the portion of a wire or rod 32 to remain straight is solidly supported on the higher surface 12 of the bender 10 between the back of the groove 30 and the pivot pin 22 while the portion to be bent is held in alignment by the groove 18 in the bending lever 16; whereas, as shown in FIG. 5, a flat strip 34 is supported on the surface 12 within the narrow space 36 between the vertical support 24 and the pivot pin 22 and the end of the bending lever 16. Otherwise the bending procedure for both kinds of stock is substantially the same.

In the form of bender illustrated the lever stop positions are provided wtih spaced openings 38 in the lower surface 14 of the bender 10 to receive the shank portion 41 of a stop pin 40. These openings are arranged in concentric relation with the pivot pin 22 in spaced positions to effect bends of the stock to certain precise angles indicated, in the embodiment illustrated, by alphabetical letters, for example, the letter A indicating a bend of 30 degrees, the letter B indicating a bend of 60 degrees, etc. The determination of the first lever stop position is dependent upon the cooperative relation of the hori zontal width of the bending lever with the diameter of the stop pin. As indicated by the broken line positions of the bending lever, a final 30 degree bend beyond the last position G may be effected by moving the bending lever into abutment with an inclined edge 42 of the higher surface 12.

The bender is provided with an adjustable length stop member 44 which may have two lateral indicator points 46 between a pair of linear scales 48, the stop member being held in its adjusted positions by means of an or dinary clamping screw 50. A socket 52 may be provided in the top of the support 24 to receive the shank 41 of the stop pin when it is not in use.

The pivot pin 22 is provided with a handle 54 (FIG. 3) for convenience in disassembling the bending lever 16 4 from the base 10 but, for clarity of illustration, this pin is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 with the handle removed.

The bender may be secured to a table or bench by means of screws inserted through openings 56 in the base 10.

A pair of threaded screw openings 58 in the top of the vertical support 24 are provided for the attachment of an alternate stop pin assembly to be described.

As previously mentioned it is contemplated that a bending program sheet or pamphlet (not shown) containing printed illustrations of various bent forms in wire and fiat stock with directions for setting the adjustable length stop 44 and the lever stop pin 40 in producing the forms will be made available to users of the benders.

The structural features and operation of the bender shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 may in many respects be identical with those of the bender shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. Therefore, like parts or elements are designated by like numerals in all the views.

The difference between the two forms of the invention resides mainly in the provision of a protractor-like indicator member 60 for attachment to the top of the vertical pivot pin support 24 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The rear and outer edges of this member in attached position are in right-angular relation in longitudinal alignment with the base 10 and merging into a circular portion forwardly and inwardly from the support 24 and having a central opening through which the pivot pin 22 projects. It may be removably attached to the support 24 by means of headed screws 62 projecting into the previously mentioned openings 58.

The indicator member 60 has a concentric slot 64 inwardly from the circular edge of the member with certain angles of bend of the stock indicated in degrees, instead of alphabetical letters, at the lever stop positions. The stop pin 66 is designed to project below the indicator member 60 and it depends from a flange portion 68 having an arcuate portion 70 for slidable insertion in the slot 64. A threaded stud portion 72 projects upwardly from the portion 70. A flat angle indicating pointer 74 has an opening at its inner end to fit over the pivot pin 22 and an opening at its outer end to fit over the stud portion 72, which has a clamping nut 76 for clamping the stop pin 66 to the member 60 in either of the lever stop positions for abutment by the bending lever 16. The stop positions as shown are spaced at 30 degree angles but may be minutely spaced to effect any desired angle of wire or flat linear stock.

In the form of bender shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, as in the form shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, many of the features of construction and operation may be identical with those of the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. Therefore, like parts in all the views FIGS. 1 to 16 are designated by like reference numerals.

The base 119 of the bender shown in FIGS. 12 to 16 is fixedly mounted on the top of a rectangular frame 78 open at its top and bottom, and having, at least, one vertical side wall 80 and end walls 82, the latter having flat portions 84 projecting outwardly from their bottom edges and having openings 86 through which screws may be inserted for attaching the bender to a table or bench.

Instead of a single lever stop pin 40 selectively insertable in the openings 38 in the base 10 at the lever stop positions in the lower horizontal surface 14, as shown in FIG. 1, separate stop pins 88 having convex heads 90 at their lower ends are slidably inserted upwardly through the respective openings 38, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. A fitting 92 inserted in a threaded opening in the base 10 has at its upper end a socket 94 in which the lower end of the bending lever pivot pin 22 is removably seated. The fitting 92 has a threaded reduced portion 96 at its lower end on which a circular angle indicator dial 98 of dish-like shape is mounted in an inverted position through a central opening 161 in the dial with its flat top surface 102 against a shoulder 97 formed by the reduced portion 96 and held rotatably on said reduced portion in a horizontal position parallel with the base by means of a nut 104. In this position the convex ends 90 of the lever stop pins 88 are urged against the surface 102 of the dial 98 by means of compression springs 106 with the upper ends of all the lever stop pins flush with the lower surface 14 of the base 10 containing the openings 38 at which the angles of bend of the wire or flat stock are indicated by radial marks directed to alphabetical letters.

The lever stop pins 88 are selectively projected above the surface 14 for abutment by the bending lever 16 by means of a single cam element 108 formed with or mounted on the top wall surface 102 of the dial 98, this camhaving oppositely tapered end surfaces 110 for rotary insertion under the convex heads of the stop pins 88. Upon withdrawal of the cams from either of the pins it will automatically be lowered to its inactive position by its associated spring 106. The cam 108 has a central concave seat 112 into which the convex heads 90 of the pins 88 will snap when they reach the respective stop positions. The dial 98 has an outwardly beveled marginal portion 114 bearing alphabetical letters designating the various bending angles this portion being of a sufficient diameter to project outwardly through a rectangular opening 116 of the wall 80 for visibility. However, as shown in FIG. 12 the pins being actuated by the cam 108 are in annularly reverse relation with the alphabetical letters on the dial 98, visible outside the opening 116 designating the actual positions of the lever stop pins 88 for effecting the angular bends indicated on the beveled marginal edge of the dial 98. The peripheral edge of the dial 98 may be knurled as indicated at 118 for convenience in rotating the dial into the selective positions for actuating the lever stop pins 118.

From the foregoing descriptions it will be seen that certain advantageous features of construction and operation for effecting and visually indicating the bending ofv the linear stock into various precise angles are common to all three forms of my improved bender illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 16, including (1) the cooperative relation of the horizontal width of the bending lever with the diameter of the lever stop pin or pins, (2) the seating of the lower edge of the bending lever on a lower surface of the base, so that the portion of the stock to remain unbent will be solidly supported by the higher surface of the base while leaving the portion to be bent above the lower surface for free abutment by the bending lever, (3) the cooperative relation of the vertical rectangular pivot pin and lever support as a positive stop for the bending lever in its starting position perpendicular to the elongated rectangular base, and (4) the cooperative relation of visual angle indicating letters or other characters with the lever stop pin or pins and a linear scale and adjustable length stop on the base in facilitating the programming of various uniform bends of either wire or flat linear stock.

Although some of the individual elements employed in my improved bender have been used in previous beuders I believe I am the first to employ such elements in the cooperative and advantageous manner illustrated and described.

Since various changes or ,rnodifications in my improved bender may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention it should be understood that the embodiments of my invention shown are intended to be illustrative, only, and restrictive only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bender for bending wire or flat linear stock to various predetermined angles, said bender comprising, in combination, an elongated base having a rearward top surface in one plane for supporting thereon the stock to be bent and a forward surface in a lower horizontal plane, a vertically elongated support of rectangular cross-sectional shape projecting upwardly from the forward end of said higher surface, a pivot pin mounted vertically on an inner side of said support with a space therebetween for close fitting relation with the stock to be bent, a bender lever having a vertical rectangular portion of substantial height and narrow width mounted on said pivot pin with its lower edge rotatably seated on said lower surface of the base, the forward side of said support serving as a stop for said bending lever when the latter is in its bend starting position in right-angular relation with said base in which position a front surface of said lever is in alignment with the inner surface of said support, a plurality of bending lever stop positions on said base with visual angle indicator means associated therewith, at least, one stop pin having means for fixedly holding it in a selected one of said stop positions for abutment by said lever, the precision of angle of the bend effected by the level being dependent on the cooperative relation of the width of the bending lever and the diameter of the stop pin.

2. A bender as in claim 1 in which the front end surface of the bending lever has therein a horizontal wire supporting groove with its lower edge in coincident alignment with the rearward higher surface of the base, and in which said vertical support has in its inner surface a wire supporting groove of corresponding size and in coincident alignment with the groove in the bending lever when the latter is in its bend starting position in right-angular relation with said base.

3. A bender as in claim 1 and including a longitudinally adjustable length stop for said linear stock associated with a linear scale on the lower surface of said base.

4. A bender as in claim -1 in which the means for holding a stop pin in a selected one of said stop positions include vertical openings in the base at the respective lever stop position in which said pin is inserted, and in which the visual angle indicator means consists of characters printed on the base opposite said openings.

5. A bender as in claim 1 in which the means for holding a stop pin in a selected one of said stop positions includes a protractor-like member detachably mounted on the top of the vertical support, said member having therein a circular slot in concentric relation with the pivot pin and in which a single stop pin inserted, means for adjustably clamping said pin at various angular positions in said slot, the visual angle indicator means consisting of characters printed on the surface of said protractor-like member.

6. A bender as in claim 2 in which a narrow space of substantial height is formed between the inner surface of the vertical support and the pivot pin for edgewise insertion therethrough of flat linear stock of various widths to be bent.

7. A bender as in claim 4 in which the base is mounted on a casing open at its top and bottom, a vertical wall of said casing having therein a lateral opening through which projects the outer marginal edge portion of a dial horizontally and rotatably mounted on a fitting depending from the base, the marginal portion bearing visual angle indicator characters corresponding to the angles of bend of the stock at said vertical openings in the base, a separate lever stop pin slidably mounted in each of said openings with its upper end flush with the top surface of the base, said pins all having headed, convex lower ends, compression springs mounted on said pins urging the lower ends against the horizontal surface of said dial, and a single inclined cam on said surface for selectively lifting said stop pins above the surface of said base for abutment by said bending lever.

8. A bender as in claim 7 in which the fitting on which the indicator dial is rotatably mounted has a socket in its upper end in which the lower end of the pivot pin is seated.

9. A bender as in claim 7 in which the pin actuating cam has a central concave seat into which the concave rotated to the corresponding stop position.

7 heads of the bender stop pins will snap when the cam is 1,889,239 11/1932 2,371,695 3/1945 2,455,138 11/1948 References Cited 2,568,691 9/ 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTS Straus 72459 Heinen 723 88 McKenna 72458 Kardong 72388 Snell 72459 10 7232, 310, 459

8 Crowley 7235 Landcaster 72-32 Perkins 72459 Wildman 72458 5 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

